College of Engineering
EECS Instructional Support Group
Sep 23 2010
EECS Instructional Computing - Review and Plans
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Spring 2009
CONTENTS:
Mission StatementCurrent InitiativesProject Wish ListBudget CutsNotable EventsMission Statement
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The EECS Instructional Support Group (ISG) installs and maintains networked
computers that are used by EECS classes. ISG provides computer accounts for
instructors and students in the Instructional labs and on Instructional
servers. ISG purchases, installs and maintains application software needed
for classes. ISG supports instructional labs in Cory Hall, Soda Hall and
Hearst Field Annex.
These are the functions in which ISG interacts with other UCB support groups:
- we obtain enrollment lists from the Registrar (Student Information Services)
- we synchronize our user accounts with the EECS department (IDSG)
- we provide cardkey pre-authorization for our students to EECS Facilities
- we bill students' voluntary printer charges to CARS
- we coordinate our use of the EECS Network Node Bank with IDSG and CNS
- we manage the computers in engineering labs with ESG
- we manage the computers in EECS conference rooms with ESG
- we manage the licenses for Synopsys/TCAD/HSPICE with the Device Group
- we manage the licenses for Cadence with the BSAC group
- we manage the licenses for Maya and Renderman with the BCAM group
Current Initiatives
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- Prepare move into new CITRIS labs.
- Prepare move from old HFA C labs.
- Replace old mice with optical mice in all labs. (approx $2K)
- Upgrade 349 Soda (Computer Graphics lab) with 8 Intel-based MacOSX and
Windows systems, scanners and a color printer. Maya 2009 can't run on
the current PowerPC-based Macs (circa 2004). (approx $20K)
Project Wish List
-----------------
Here is a wish list of projects that we would like to do. We lack the
funding to do them all.
1) new labs in CITRIS: furniture, A/V, etc ($50K)
This is for CS Selfpaced, CS61C/CS61CL, CS184, CS39J and
DECAL classes (includes many non-EECS majors) - approx
1250 students.
We've been allocated 2 labs in the new CITRIS building to
replace the 3 labs in Hearst Field Annex that we'll vacate
in June 2009. We need to purchase and install lab benches,
chairs, networking and other accomodations to make the lab
functional. This would otherwise come out of the ISG S&E
funds. Apple has promised to donate new computers.
2) upgrade workstations in Instructional labs ($234K total)
- replace 30 PCs (circa 2002) in 105 Cory for EE20N ($90K)
- replace 8 PCs (circa 2003) in 111 Cory for EE117 ($24K)
- replace 8 PCs (circa 2002) in 218 Cory for EE143 ($24K)
- replace 120 dim CRTs with LCDs in 6 Cory & Soda labs ($96K)
Benefit to approx 750 students in CS152, CS160, CS162, CS164,
CS169, CS170, CS172, CS184, CS186, CS188, CS194, CS198, EE117,
EE143, EE20N.
3) upgrade servers used for EECS classes ($126K total)
- 3 Sun SPARC (UNIX) servers ($30K each)
- 3 X86 (UNIX or Windows) servers ($12K each)
These servers are used by all EECS classes for applications,
programming, autograding and for backend services including
email, LDAP, SVN, database, WEB and video steaming.
4) computer/software for new Virtual Hosting service ($24K)
- 1 Sun Fire X4450 Server w/ 24-core cpu, 64-GB RAM ($24K)
- 100-user license for Thinsy VM server software ($???)
Students in several programming classes would be issued a
persisent virtual computer on which they could safely
develop programs that have special security or performance
risks. Users would include EE122 (network protocols),
CS186 (database and WEB servers) and CS161 (computer
security) - approx 250 students.
5) renovate 105 Cory: new furniture, wiring, A/V ($30K)
105 Cory is a teaching lab that is used primarily by EE20N
but is also available to other classes. It has an overhead
projector and is well-suited to hands on instruction. The
lab benches, chairs, network and electrical cabling are in
disrepair from years of use.
6) salaries for 2 student staff for 1 year ($60K)
To meet the FY 08-09 budget cut (4.6%), we have reduced our
student staff. As a result, we have a higher incidence of
delayed repairs and deferred maintenance in the labs. This
funding would support staff for projects such as:
- check physical condition of labs and do routine maintenance
- install new equipment (such as with items #2 above)
- update our UCB Scheme software (CS3, CS61A) for home users
- install an RSS feed server for use by instructors
This would benefit all 6800+ students who use our computers.
7) Develop an energy lab (est $80K) - ESG
The course and labs would cover various energy sources, conversion
methods, devices, efficiencies, delivery infrastructure, costs,
storage and cutting edge technologies. Labs would need related
equipment, including: a heliostat with 2-meter solar collector
dish, various photovoltaic converters, solar-thermal converters,
direct hydrogen generation (pyrolysis) from water in concentrated
sunlight, robotic systems for capturing wind & wave power, tractor
kite to pull generator, direct electrostatic generation from wind,
and possibly submersible wave-energy transmission to generator.
This would be a new course of interest to students from various
departments.
8) Develop Microfabrication and MEMs curriculum and labs (est $220K) - ESG
Currently, we offer in EECS three courses in Microfabrication and
MEMs, with an annual enrollment of 150 students, approximately half
of which are EE majors. We propose to underwrite the S&E expenses
of running these labs and to add labs to the MEMs curriculum.
Some of the items we want to add are high frequency probe stations,
semiconductor parameter analyzers, high frequency impedance
analyzers, an AFM, a small single-target RF sputtering system for
aluminum for up to 4" substrates, spin rinser for similar substrates
to use prior to oxidation and diffusion furnace steps, and a bench
top prolifometer.
9) Update and integrate the College of Engineering Controls
and Feedback Systems curriculum and laboratories (est $40OK) -ESG
Combine the controls curricula from Mechanical and Electrical
Engineering into a common course. This will also include a set
of common undergraduate lab experiments. Primary cost are
Student staff for lab development for one year, upgrading 12
computer stations to use LabVIEW hardware.
Standardize undergraduate lab experiments: Quanser Inverted
Pendulum (Pendulum Cart Control, Linear Inverted Pendulum);
Magnetic Levitation Control. We Need 9 more Quanser setups
(in addition to the 3 purchased in Summer 2008), maintenance
for custom magnetic levitation setups.
Develop a graduate controls laboratory using the undergraduate
lab experiments as a starting point: Quanser Nonlinear Inverted
Pendulum Experiments (Self Erecting Inverted pendulum, Double
Pendulum, Flexible Joint); Trajectory Tracking for Magnetic
Levitation Control. We need 12 NI 1762 camera systems for
trajectory tracking.
Courses affected (260 students) include:
- EE128 (Feedback Control)
- ME132 (Dynamic Systems and Feedback)
- ME134 (Automatic Control Systems)
- EE221A (Linear System Theory)
- ME232 (Advanced Control Systems I)
- EE222 (Nonlinear Systems Analysis, Stability and Control)
- ME237 (Control of Nonlinear Dynamic Systems)
Budget Cuts
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The funding that supports Instructional computing will be cut by 13% ($73K)
starting July 1 2009, in addition to the temporary one-year cuts due to
furloughs. This follows a %4.6 cut ($26K) in July 2008. A FY 2009-2010
budget projection will be posted soon at
http://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~kevinm/budget/.
This funding supports computers, software, service contracts, printing,
network fees, furniture, supplies and salaries. For a a summary of the
facilities and services that are included, please see
https://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~inst/reports/?file=Instructional-Inventory.docNotable Events
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See http://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/notices.html for current events.
For additional information, please contact me:
Kevin Mullally, ISG Manager
EECS Instructional Support Group
378 Cory Hall, (510) 643-6141
kevinm@eecs.berkeley.eduhttp://inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/
source: ~inst/public_html/reports/managers/Spring_2009